Talking-machine.



J. B. BROWNING. TALKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MALSI, 190s.

Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES W. Mala ATTORNEY J. B. BROWNING.

TALKING MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION rum) MAB. 31, 1908.

948,040. Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jafiiz B'Bnamuky I ATTORNEY INVENTOR I 'r STA FFEQ.

JOHN B. BROWNING, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB .TO VICTOR/TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

TALKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Original application filed December 22, 1903, Serial No. 186,197. Divided and'this application filed March I 31, 1908. Serial No. 424,317.

. had-to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specificatlon, this ap lication bemg a division of my application led December 22, 1903, Serial No. 186,197.

The objects of my invention are: to provide in a talking machine a plurality of sound boxes arranged to reproduce either simultaneously or separately the same tones from a single record, and to arrange the said boxes so that the operator is enabled to change'the volume and uality of the sound at will, by raising one ox while the other continues playing; to provide means whereby a pair of independent sound boxes may be supported by a single sound tube; to provide an improved mounting for a diaphragm; to rovide an improved mounting for a stylus ar; to, provide means for the lateral adjustment 0 a stylus needle with respect-to its stylus bar; and t provide other improvements, all of which will be fully set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the append ed claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a talking .machine having my improvements embodied therein. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged 'plan and end View of one of the U-shaped tubes as used in my device. Fig. 4;

is a half section and half elevation of the tee connection. Fig. 5 is an end view of'one portion of said tee. Figs. 6 and 7 are. front I the couplings.

,central sectional, and bottom views respecis a diagrammatic view and sectional views respectively of one of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are side,

tively of one of my reproducers, and Fig. 11 of the spring used in my. device.

On reference to the drawings it will be observed that my invention embodies two independent sound boxes or reproducers 1 and 2, each having a circular diaphragm 2 -ma'de'of any suitable material, preferably mica, with a split rubber tube or ring'3 incasingthe edge of said diaphragm completely, and preventing the mica from coming in contact with any part of the sound mica diaphragm 2 1n their" proper relative positions, and both are kept securely in place by the use of a metallic ring 4 which may be connected to or attached to the box or casing in any suitable manner.

The stylus bar 5 is preferably made of one piece of metal, and is phonetically connected to the dia hragm 2 by any improved method, an extends through openings in the rubber (gasket 4 and sound box casing. The free en of the stylus bar 5 comprises an enlarged cylindrical portion 6 forming a socket, as shown, and is provided with oppositely extending rigid arms 7 rigid therewith to the ends of which are r1 idly secured by rivets or otherwise the ends of the two sprin arms 8 and 9, which are connect-.

ed at' the r opposite ends by the rigid flat portion 10,..forming a U shaped spring supportfor the stylus bar.

The U shaped support for the stylus bar is preferably made of spring steel. Durin the course of construction of the same, an before being tempered, the arms 8 and 9 of the support are eflected in opposite directions from the central plane o the support, to assume the position shown in the support is then tempered uni o 11, and rmlyso that when the support is secured in place between the sound box and the rigid arms of the stylus bar, and the arms 8 and 9 are brou ht into the same plane and are held in para lel directions, the arms will be under balanced stresses.

In order to connect the U shaped sugport for the stylus bar rigidly with the soun box casing, and yet to permit" free elastic movement of the arms v8 and 9 of the support, one side of the casin is flattened and a 'late 11 is rigidly secure thereto by means 0 screws 1.1, an the central portion 10 of the U shaped support is held rigidly in positionagainst a-washer 12 mounted upon the outer surface of the fiat plate 11 by means of a screw 13 passing through the central portion 10, the washer 12, the plate 11, and into the sound box casing. By this means the 0911-.

tralportion 10 of the U shaped support is held rigidly, and the arms 8 and 9 of the,

support are free to yield to the oscillation of the stylus bar. With this construction in mind it is evident that, owing to the rigidity of the oppositely extendmg arms 7 of the stylus bar, and the rigidity of the comparatively broad central portion 10 of the U shaped support, the stylus bar is held rigidly by the parallel spaced spring arms 10 against any force tending to oscillate the stylus bar in a plane parallel to the diaphragm, and it is also evident that the comparatively narrow spring arms 8 and 9 of the su port will offer ver slight resistance to any orce tending to osclllate the stylus bar in a ular to the diaphragm.

The adjustable needle arm 14 is with a set screw 15 to properly hold the needle point 16, when inserted in the hollow end of the adjustable arm 14, and is thus plane perpendicfirmly secured to the stylus bar 5 at its free end 6, by the set screw 17. This construction affords an easy and positive method of fixing the distances and maintaining the position of the needles 16, 16 on the sound record 30, as shown in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that a duplicate of the stylus bar and supporting means therefor described in connection with sound box 1, is mounted upon the sound box 2, and thecrank formation of the bar 14 permits the stylus of one sound box to be placed in position to track after the stylus of the other sound box in the same sound groove.

A metallic U shaped tube 18 is perma-" nently secured to the case of the sound box 1 or 2 by a driving'fit, as shown in Fig. 9. Said tube has fitted on its free end a collar 19 provided with a stop plate or projection 20 which interlocks'with the stopplate 21 on the tapered tee 22. This method of'fasten-- ing gives the necessary support to the'sound boxes 1 and 2 when not resting on the record 30 and still allows for the requisite vertical mot-ion when following the track or grooves of the record, due to the unequal thickness of the record and uneven motion of the turntable 23, which carries the record.

The tapered tee 22 is made of any suitable cast metal and is provided with right and left hand screw threads 24, 24 on each end of the longitudinal run, said threads being,

sound boxes 1 and 2, and giving the waves the proper direction through the tapered tee to the horn or megaphone 26 which is screwed to the tee as shown. The deflector thereby secures the full benefit of the reproducing qualities of each sound box or reproprovided ling.

ducer through a single channel without any nullifying eflect from one reproducer upon the other, greatly increasing the clearness,

distinctness and intensity of the reproduced sound waves.

The horn or megaphone 26 and the tapered tee 22 are supported by a post 27 having suitable hearings in the metal arm 28, which is secured to the cabinet 29 in any approved manner. The cabinet 29 contains a spring actuated or other motor necessary to revolve the turntable 23, carrying the record 30. The tee being free to move upon the box'and arm connection, thus rovldes for all necessary lateral motion of the sound The split rubber tube or ring 3, engagingv I the diaphragm 2 at its edge, serves as a packlng and as an insulation for the diaphragm, prevents the edge of the diaphragm from'sphtting, and reduces to a minimum the rattlin and. other unpleasant noises caused by t e diaphragm coming in contact with the-metal parts of the sound box cas- Although I have shown this invention in onlyone of'the forms in which it may be embodied, yet -it is obvious that many changes might be made in the construction of this invention, within the scope of the' appended claims, without departlng from the spirit of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a talking machine, a plurality of sound boxes, each of said sound boxes being providedwith an independent stylus needle, and means'for the lateral adjustment of. one of said needles with respect to its box to hold said stylus needles in close proximity to each other whereby said boxes-may be used to reproduce simultaneously substantially the same tone from a single record.

2. In a talking machine, a plurality of independently movable sound boxes, each 'of said sound boxes bein provided with an'in dependent stylus nee le, and means for the lateral adjustment of one of said needles with respect to its box to hold said stylus needles in close proximity to each other whereby said boxes may beused to reproduce simultaneously substantially the same tone from a single record. Y

3. The combinatlon with a sound box casing, of a stylus bar, and a mounting for said see;

ba-r comprising'a U-shaped spring connecting said stylus bar and said casing, the side arms of said spring being yielding and being secured to one of said connected members and the portion of said spring between said arms being rigid and secured to the other of said. members.

4. The combination with a sound box casing, of a stylus bar, and a mounting for said bar com rising a U-shaped spring connecting said stylhs bar and said casing, said spring having a flattened rigid central portion secured to one of said connected members and having its ends secured to the other of said connected members.

5. The combination withasound box casing, of a stylus bar having oppositely arranged lateral extensions and a mounting for said bar comprising a U-s'haped spring having its ends secured to said extensions and its central portion secured to said casing.

6. The combination with a sound box casing, of a stylus bar having oppositel ar ranged rigid lateral extensions, and yie ding connections between said extensions and said casing.

' '7. The combination with a sound box casing, of a stylus bar having oppositely arranged rigid lateral extensions, and spring arms connecting said extensions to said casing.

8. The combination with a sound box casing of a stylus bar having oppositely arranged r1 id iateral extensions, and a mounting or said bar comprising a U- shaped spring having its ends secured to said extensions and its central portion secured to said casing.

-9. The combination with asound box casing, of a stylus bar, and spaced parallel yielding arms between said casing and said bar supporting said bar.

10. The combination with a sound box casing, of a stylus bar, and spaced parallel yielding arms between said casing and said bar supporting said bar, one end of each arm being secured in a fixed position with respect to said bar.

11. The combination with a sound box casing, of a stylus bar, and spaced parallel yielding arms between said casing and said bar supporting said bar, one endof each arm 5'5 "being held in a fixed position with respect to one of the said connected members.

12. The combination with a stylus bar-,of

a mounting therefor comprising spaced resilient arms held in substantially the same plane but normally tending tospring upon opposite sides of said'plane.

13. The combination with a stylus bar of amounting therefor comprising a substantially U-shaped spring having its arms held in :substaiiti'ally the same plane but tending to diverge therefrom.

I holding a needle-substantially 14. The coiiibination with a diaphragm,

of a mounting for said diaphragm comprising a ring having a transversely curved convex outer surface, said diaphragm being'carriedwithin said ring, and yielding means engaging said ringfor holding said ring in position. I

15. The combination with a diaphragm,

of a mounting for the same com rising a ring having a transversely curve concave inner surface, said diaphragm being carried within said ring, and (yielding means engaging said ring for hol ing said ring in position.

16. The combination with a diaphragm,

of a mounting therefor comprising a ring.

having a transversely curved convex outer surface and-a transversely curved concave inner surface, said diaphragm being held within the inner concave surface of said ring, and yielding means engaging said ring for holding said ring in position.

17. The combination with a diaphragm,

'of a mounting therefor comprising a yielding ring having a transversely curved convex outer surface and a transversely curved concave inner surface, said diaphragm being held within the inner concave surface of said ring, and a yielding ring contacting with said first mentioned ring for holding said first mentioned ring in position.

18. Thecombination with a diaphragrmof a mounting for said diaphragm com rising a splitresilient tubular ring of circu ar cross said diaphragm being held within section and. a yielding the inner surface ofsaid ring,

tubular ring contacting with said first mentioned ring'for holding said first mentioned ring in position.

19. The combination with a sound box, of a stylus .bar having a rotatable needle arm extending laterally therefrom, and having a Eeedle socket substantially parallel to said 20. The combination with a sound box, of a stylus bar having an adjustable rotatable needle arm extending laterally therefrom, and having a needle socket substantially parallel to said bar. Y

1. The combination with a sound box, of a stylus bar having an adjustable needle arm extendingv laterally therefrom, said arm being rotatable with respect to said bar, being provided with ineansffor holding a needle substantially parallel to said bar,

22. The combination with a sound box, of

and

a stylus bar, and means carried by the bar for the lateral adjustment of a needle with said rotatably adjustable I a needle arm extending laterally therefrom,

24. The combination with a sound box, of a stylus bar, and a needle arm extending laterally therefrom, said needle bar being provided with means for holding a needle substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said bar, said needle'arm being rotatable with respect to said bar, and said bar being provided with means to hold said arm in a fixed position. I

25. In a talkin machine,'the combination with a pair of in ependently movable sound boxes, of a stylus bar upon each box and a laterally extending needle arm upon each stylus bar.

26. In a talking machine, the combination with a pair of independent sound boxes, of a pair of independent stylus bars each having means for holding a stylus needle, and means whereby said needles may be brought into 'operativealinement'with each other so that said needles may produce simultaneously substantially the same tones from a single record.

27. The combination with a stylus bar, of

a mounting therefor, comprising a pair of.

resilient arms held in substantially the same plane, but normally tending to spring upon opposite sides of said plane. 1

28. The combinationiwith a stylus bar, of a mounting therefor, comprising resilient arms, said arms being held out of their nor- 'mal positions by means of opposite stresses respectively. I I

29. The combination with a stylus bar, of

a mounting therefor, comprising a U-shaped spring, the ends of the spring being secured to the bar and the central portion of the spring being secured to a fixed support.

30. The combination with a stylus bar, of a needle arm extending laterally therefrom, and adjustable with respect thereto.

31. Tue combination with a stylus bar, of I means carried thereby for holding a needle, said means being laterally adjustable with respect to said bar.

32. The combination with a stylus bar, of

said arm being rotatably adjustable with respect to said bar.

33. 'In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a yielding ring for holding said diaphragm in position, and yield ng means contacting with said ring for holding said ring in position.

- 34. The combination with a stylus bar, of

a plurality of spaced yielding members forming the sole support for said bar, said yielding members being free to bend, but held against torsion.

35. The combination with a stylus bar, of spaced flat yielding members free to bend, but held against torsion, forming the 'sole support forsaid bar.

36. The'combination with a stylus bar, of

spaced yielding members extending transversely of said bar, and forming the sole support of said bar, being free to bend, but held against torsion.

37. The combination with a stylus bar, of spaced. parallel yielding members forming the sole support for said bar.

38. The combination with a stylus bar, of spaced parallel yielding members extending in the same direction from said bar forming the sole support for said bar.

39. The combination with a stylus bar, of

spaced flat spring members, free to bend, but held against torsion, forming the sole support for said bar.

' 40. The combination with a stylus bar, of spaced flat spring members extending transversely of said bar, and forming the sole support thereof, said members being free to bend, but held against torsion.

41. The combination with a stylus bar, provided with rigid lateral extensions, of yielding members connected to said extensions, and forming the sole support of said stylus bar.

42. The combination with a stylus bar, provided with rigid lateral extensions, of yielding members connected to said extensions, and extending transversely of said bar, forming the sole support thereof.

43. In a sound box, the combination with adiaphragm, of a stylus bar phonetically connected thereto, rigid lateral extensions arranged upon opposite sides of said bar, and spaced yielding supports for said bar, secured to said extensions, and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said diaphragm,

44. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus bar phonetically connected thereto, rigid lateral extensions arranged upon opposite sides of said bar, and spaced yielding supports for said bar, secured to said extensions and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to said diaphragm, and projecting in the same direction from said bar. I 45. In a sound box, the combination with a fixed member, of a diaphragm, a stylus bar spaced from said fixed member and phonetically .connected to said diaphragm, and spaced yielding members extending transversely of said bar, and toward the plane of said diaphragm connecting said fixed member and said bar.

46. In a sound box, thecombination with a casing, of a diap ragm, a stylus bar spaced from said casing and phoneticall connected to said diaphragm and spaced yie ding members connecting said casing and said bar, and held against torsion.

47. In asound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus bar phonetically connected thereto and spaced yielding memhers 'formin the sup ort for said bar, the

. a casing, of a diaphragm, a yielding ring between the diaphragm and the casing, and yielding means engaging said ring to hold the same in position.

51. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a mounting therefor comprising a ring en aging the I periphery of the diaphragm, an a yielding tubular ring engaging said first mentioned ring for holding the same in position.

52. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a diaphragm having a trans.

versely rounded edge,'and a yielding ring between the periphery of the diaphragm and the inner: surface of the casing, said ring being held against movement in the plane of the diaphragm by said casing.

53. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a diaphragm, and a yielding rin between the periphery of the diaphragm an( the inner surface of the casing, said ring being held against movement in the plane of the diaphragm by said casing, and yielding means bontacting with said ring to hold said ring against movement in a direction transverse to the plane of the diaphragm. v p 54. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a mounting therefor comprising a split tubular yielding ring incas ing the edge of said diaphragm, said ring having a transversely .rounded outer surface. 55. In a sound box, the combination with .a diaphragm having a rounded peripheral edge, of a split tubular yielding ring having a transversely rounded inner surface incas; ing said edge for supporting said diaphragm. 56. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, having a cylindrical bore, of a diaphragm, and a yielding ring engaging the-edge of said diaphragm and havlng a transversely rounded outer surface engaging the cylindrical surface of said bore.

- 5 7. The combination with .a stylus bar, of

a mounting therefor comprising a resilient arm held normally in flexed condition.

, 58. The combinationwith a stylus bar, of a mounting therefor comprising a pair of resilient arms flexed in opposite directions.

I 59. The combination witha stylus bar, of a mounting therefor comprising a pair of gaging theperiphery of said diaphragm and resilient arms normally tending to flex in opposite directions.

60. The combination with a stylus bar, of a mounting therefor, comprising a pair of resilient arms extending in the same direction from said her andnormally tending to flex in opposite directions.

61. The combination with a sound box, of means for holding a stylus needle and means for effecting a lateral adjustment of the needle with respect to the box.

62. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm having a transversely rounded peripheral edge, of a yielding mounting engaging the periphery only of said diaphragm.

63. In a sound box the combination with a casing having a cylindrical inner surface, of a diaphragm having a transversely rounded peripheral edge, and a yielding annular mounting engaging-the periphery only of said diaphragm, said mounting having a transversely convex outer surface contactg with the cylindrical inner surface of the sound box. v 64:. In"a sound box the combination with a diaphragm, of a yielding mounting engaging the peripheral edge only of said diaphragm, said mounting having a transversely convex outer surface.

65. In a sound box the combination with a casing having a cylindrical inner surface, of a diaphragm and 'a yielding mounting engaging the peripheral edge only'of said diaphragm, said mounting having a trans-- versely convex outer surface bearing against the cylindrical inner surface of the casing.

66. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus bar, rigid lateral extensions arranged upon opposite sides of said bar and rigid therewith, and yielding supports for said bar securedtransversely of said bar to said extensions and projectingin the same direction therefrom.

67. Ina sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus bar, rigid lateral extensions arranged upon opposite sides of said bar and rigid therewith, and flat spring supports for said bar secured transversely I tact with said diaphragm and spaced springs projecting in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the diaphragm upon which said stylus bar is supported upon the sound box casing, said stylus bar being located substantially midway between said springs, in a plane at right angles to the .plane of the said springs, said springs being free to bend but held against torsion.

69. In a sound box, a diaphragm, a stylus bar having one end thereof in aconstlc cona diaphragm, of a stylus bar phonetically 4 connected thereto and provided with rigid lateral extensions, and spaced fiat springs oblong in transverse section connected to said extensions and forming the sole support for said stylus bar.

71. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus bar phonetically secured thereto, and spaced spring members oblong in cross section and holding each other against torsion formingthe sole support for said bar.

4 7 2. In a sound box, the combination with a fixed member, of a diaphragm, a'stylus bar spaced from said fixed member and phonetically connected to said diaphragm, and.

spaced yielding members extending transversel of said bar and toward the plane of said diaphragm connecting said fixed member and said bar.

73. In a sound box, a stylus bar, and

spaced sprin members extending transversely of sal bar and formmg the sole support therefor, said spaced members being I free to bend but being held against torsion.

74, In a sound box, a stylus bar, and

spaced resilient members extending trans-i versely of said bar and forming the sole support therefor, said spaced members being free to bend but being held against torsion.

75. In a sound box, the combination with a diaphragm, of a stylus bar having a stylus socket, rigid lateral extensions arranged upon opposite sides of said bar and rigid therewith, and yielding supports for said bar secured transversely of said bar to said ex-' tensions and projecting'in the same direction therefrom, the longitudinal axis of said socket bein .ina plane perpendicular to the axis of osci lation of said bar.

7 (3. The'combination with a stylus bar provided with rigid lateral extensions, of yielding members connected -to and extending transversely .of said'extensions, and forming the solesupport of said stylus bar.

In witness whereof, I hereuntoset -my handthis 18th day of March, 1908. p

, JOHN B. BROWNING.

Witnessesz.

BURTON J. PIERCE, SUSAN BROWNING. 

